Tim La Touche

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This is the most sensible proposal for reducing costs on HS2 that I have heard in some time. It has been apparent for many years that this project was mis-named and should have been called "HC2" (or HC1). In other words "High Capacity" because it's never really been about speed (certainly in the first phase) but about improving capacity. I have to say that I was not a full supporter of this project until I understood that capacity and avoiding disruption of current capacity was behind the need for this new line.

I have to say that reading this article made my heart sink slightly - particularly as it has been written by the NCE.
My previous reaction to hearing that Nelson Ogunshankin of ACE (not mentioned here?) was one of the new Tfl board members was "great, there is an engineer on the board who will bring good relevant knowledge". What had not occurred to me was that he is a black Nigerian that would "tick" some diversity boxes.
Whilst I laud the overall aims of having diverse representation, I suppose I am more concerned that members of the board are there because they know what they are talking about who will make a valuable and relevant contribution. And I accept that, as John Armitt has pointed out, engineers are not the only professionals that have expertise when it comes to infrastructure and running transport networks.
I now have my doubts!

I am curious to know why the NCE chose to illustrate this story with the original Stephenson tubular box section rail bridge as opposed to the existing innovative two-tier steel truss arch bridge, carrying both road and rail traffic, that superseded it. It seems to me that this is a much worthier example of what modern engineering can do.

Judging by what Howard Davies said in his interview on Radio 4's Today programme this morning (Tuesday), Boris Island has not been "dropped". It has just not been included yet - pending further investigation. So either the Commission's interim report says something different or your report is not quite correct!

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